foment

/fou'ment/

Thân thiện

The nurse gently foments the patient's sore leg with a warm, damp cloth.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To instigate or stir up (trouble, discord, or rebellion): To deliberately encourage or provoke the development of something, typically something undesirable or violent.
   • (Medical, archaic) To apply warmth or medicated lotions to (a part of the body): To bathe or treat with warm or hot liquids, typically for therapeutic purposes.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (Instigate):
  • The agent was accused of trying to foment unrest among the population.
  • His speeches were designed to foment distrust in the government.
• Verb (Medical):
  • The old remedy was to foment the swollen joint with warm herbal compresses.

Advanced Usage

• "To foment a revolution": to actively encourage and incite a rebellion or overthrow of a government.
  • The pamphlets were distributed to foment a revolution against the monarchy.
• "To foment discord/dissension": to sow seeds of disagreement or conflict within a group.
  • The rival faction sought to foment discord within the ruling party.

Variants and Related Words

• Fomentation (noun): The act of fomenting; incitement. In medicine, the application of warm, moist substances.
  • The fomentation of social unrest was his primary goal.
  • A fomentation helped reduce the muscle pain.

Synonyms

• Instigate: To bring about or initiate (an action or event), often a negative one.
• Incite: To encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful behavior).
• Provoke: To stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one).
• Agitate: To make someone troubled or nervous; to campaign to arouse public concern about an issue.

Antonyms

• Quell: To put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force.
• Pacify: To quell the anger, agitation, or excitement of.
• Deter: To discourage (someone) from doing something by instilling doubt or fear of the consequences.

Related Phrases

• Agent of fomentation: A person who actively stirs up trouble.
  • He was seen as an agent of fomentation, always spreading rumors.
• Climate of fomentation: A social or political atmosphere where unrest is being encouraged.
  • The government crackdown occurred in a climate of fomentation.

Học thuật

Verb

1. bathe with warm water or medicated lotions
   • His legs should be fomented
2. try to stir up public opinion

Từ đồng nghĩa

• agitate
• stir up